Presented at the Mormon Transhumanist Association on 6 April 2012 in Salt Lake City, Utah. A rehearsal version is available at (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isw2I6Z2_Lc).

1. Mormonism Beyond the Gender
Binary

2. AUDIENCE AWARENESS
Heard the word "postgender" before today
Have a personal friend who's intersex

3. OUTLINE
1. Discuss the shortcomings of gender roles
2. Explain why the gender binary fails
3. Defend my view that Postgenderism will
result in many genders, rather than no
genders
4. Conclude as to why this is a good thing
for Mormonism

4. BIO
-Feminist, Biologist -Wrote a book

5. OUTLINE
1. Discuss the shortcomings of gender roles
2. Explain why the gender binary fails
3. Defend my view that Postgenderism will
result in many genders, rather than no
genders
4. Conclude as to why this is a good thing
for Mormonism

6. SHORTCOMINGS OF GENDER ROLES
Stories:
-Feminist Mormon Housewives angst (angry,
hurt women and indignant singles because
of motherhood emphasis and governance
gap)
-Arbon: MPA faculty

7. SHORTCOMINGS OF GENDER ROLES
-Intersex: square peg, round hole
-Friend Steve- likes boys, effects on self-
concept and esteem
"Fiercely gendered world"

8. OUTLINE
1. Discuss the shortcomings of gender roles
2. Explain why the gender binary fails
3. Defend my view that Postgenderism will
result in many genders, rather than no
genders
4. Conclude as to why this is a good thing
for Mormonism

9. GENDER BINARY ≠ REALITY
“Everybody is either a boy or a girl- this is a
pretty obvious and common sense
proposition. Until you examine it closely.”

10. PRIESTHOOD OR RELIEF SOCIETY?
What about when appearance doesn’t
•
give it away?

11. PRIESTHOOD OR RELIEF SOCIETY?
SO, LET’S VOTE!

12. “GENDER IS AN ESSENTIAL
CHARACTERISTIC OF INDIVIDUAL
PREMORTAL, MORTAL, AND
ETERNAL IDENTITY AND
PURPOSE.”–FAMILY PROC

13. Spiritual sex of each?
Taylor Jessica Taylor Jessica
Conclusion from uncertainty: perform both
marriages, or perform neither; choosing only one
couple is irrational.

14. Taylor Jessica Taylor Jessica
Exaltation Excommunication
If physical appearance cannot ground
the bishop’s decision, the criterion of
appearance must be rejected, not just
the “fringe” cases.

15. “But,” you might contend, “intersex folks are
•
such a small minority- sure there are a few
questionable cases, but that doesn’t mean the
whole male/female system is a failure.” The
border cases reveal the underlying truth we
usually don’t otherwise think of, however. Sex
and gender are a photomosaic rather than a
binary: for everyone.

16. OUTLINE
1. Discuss the shortcomings of gender roles
2. Explain why the gender binary fails
3. Defend my view that Postgenderism will
result in many genders, rather than no
genders
4. Conclude as to why this is a good thing
for Mormonism

17. POSTGENDERISM= MANY GENDERS
(NOT GENDER NEUTRALITY)
This mouse has two,
and only two, parents:
two male mice.
"Assisted reproduction will make it
possible for individuals of any sex to
reproduce in any combinations they
choose, with or without 'mothers' and
'fathers'”

18. POSTGENDERISM= MANY GENDERS
(NOT GENDER NEUTRALITY)
•Sexual traits may become as freely
chosen as eyesight (through wearing
contacts or undergoing lasik surgery),
or even hair color (by dying your hair).
•When humans gain the ability to
"talk" to our cells the way our
genomes presently do, a whole world
of choice opens up that is tough to
imagine presently.

19. POSTGENDERISM= MANY GENDERS
(NOT GENDER NEUTRALITY)
•"Greater biological fluidity and
psychological androgyny will allow
future persons to explore both
masculine and feminine aspects of
personality. Postgenderists do not call
for the end of all gender traits, or
universal androgyny, but rather that
those traits become a matter of
choice."

20. POSTGENDERISM= MANY GENDERS
(NOT GENDER NEUTRALITY)
•Analogy: gender vs. •Analogy: gender vs.
literary genre literary genre
•[Fiction/non-fiction] •[Male/female]
will be replaced by will be replaced by
[fantasy, historical [?]
fiction, memoir,
tragedy, scripture,
romance, diary, fable]

21. OUTLINE
1. Discuss the shortcomings of gender roles
2. Explain why the gender binary fails
3. Defend my view that Postgenderism will
result in many genders, rather than no
genders
4. Conclude as to why this is a good thing
for Mormonism

22. POLYGENDERED MORMONISM>
BINARY MORMONISM
Marriage= Two Intersex

23. POLYGENDERED MORMONISM>
BINARY MORMONISM
Marriage= Two Intersex

24. POLYGENDERED MORMONISM>
BINARY MORMONISM
Governance

25. POLYGENDERED MORMONISM>
BINARY MORMONISM
Governance

26. POLYGENDERED MORMONISM>
BINARY MORMONISM
Governance

27. Mormonism Beyond the
Gender Binary